Professionals

Husch Blackwell Adds Depth to its International Practice Group

News Releases

4.04.12

Two attorneys, two analysts join firm’s Washington, DC, office

On April 2, Husch Blackwell added a team of four international transportation, maritime, export compliance and trade experts to its International practice group, within the firm’s Corporate Department. The two attorneys and two professional staff members are located in Husch Blackwell’s Washington, D.C., office.

“We were looking to add depth to meet the identified needs of our clients,” said Steve Carman, chair of Husch Blackwell’s Corporate Department, “and these four are a great fit, with their significant international trade, customs and maritime experience. Plus, the two international transportation specialists give us the ability to provide experienced service in a cost-effective way.”

The new hires previously worked together at the firm of Rodriguez O’Donnell Gonzalez & Williams:

Carlos Rodriguez, Partner, entered private practice in Washington, D.C., in 1977 and successfully grew his practice into a boutique law firm with a national presence. He is considered by many to be an expert in the field of international transportation, with more than three decades of experience working with ocean steamship lines, shippers associations, transportation intermediaries, shipyards and governmental agencies. Rodriguez has been involved with commercial development in China since the late 1970s, before diplomatic relations were established. He received his Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University School of Law, his Master of Arts from Fairleigh Dickinson University and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas. Additionally, he was an officer in the U.S. Navy for three years and later worked as an investigator and trial attorney for the Federal Maritime Commission from 1971 to 1977.

Zheng Xie, Associate, represents both American and Chinese clients regarding matters of international trade, international transportation, commercial transactions and corporate regulation. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, she advises clients on overseas business practices, counsels them on compliance with foreign laws and regulations, and liaises with American and Chinese governmental agencies. Xie has undergraduate and law degrees from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, China; and LLM and JD degrees from the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Mo.

Eddie Edwards, Senior Transportation Analyst, is an expert on regulatory transportation and tariff issues, having conducted tariff reviews and analysis on behalf of shipper and carrier clients — including issues concerning OTI and FMC licensing applications — for the past six years. He has worked in the tariff filing/publishing/research industry since 1985, after serving in the United States Marines for four years, where he achieved the rank of Sergeant E-5 within three years of active duty. Edwards is a graduate of Howard University School of Law and LaGuardia College.

Christopher Rul, Transportation Analyst, has spent the past 10 years conducting legal research in the areas of admiralty and maritime law in relation to the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act; drafting and filing documents with various state and federal courts and the Federal Maritime Commission; and doing extensive work on compliance issues with the Automated Export System, International Traffic in Arms Regulations and the Office of Foreign Assets Control. He graduated from George Washington School of Law and summa cum laude from Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

Husch Blackwell has long recognized that the demands of modern business are not constrained by geographic boundaries. Its International practice group provides clients with comprehensive legal services and expertise for all aspects of their cross-border pursuits, such as international import/export transactions, distribution arrangements, and distributorship and sales representation agreements, as well as acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures. In addition to London, other areas of focus include Asia and Mexico, Central and South America.